Medjugorje 25 years on

On June 25, thousands of pilgrims flocked to Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the alleged apparitions of Our Lady. It was on that day in June that five teenagers and a ten-year-old boy claimed that the Virgin Mary had appeared to them, giving them a message of peace.

Since then the visionaries say that Our Lady has given them no fewer than 30,000 messages. One of the visionaries, who now lives in Italy, says that Our Lady still speaks to her, giving her a message on the 25th day of each month. This message is broadcast on Radio Maria, which transmits from Italy.

Although millions must have visited the shrine in Medjugorje during the past 25 years, controversy still surrounds the event. Many are convinced that what the visionaries claim to have happened in June 1981 is nothing but the truth.

They find no difficulty in accepting what is claimed to have happened then and since. Others are more than sceptic. The Church has not so far acknowledged the veracity of the claims.

Indeed in the mid 1980s She banned official pilgrimages to the shrine. Bishop Ratko Peric, whose diocese includes Mejugorje, like his predecessor is convinced that the apparitions never took place.

This notwithstanding, tens of thousands of pilgrims still visit Medjugorje regularly to pray at the shrine and profess their faith and devotion to our Blessed Mother, whom Catholics believe has appeared in many countries throughout the world during the two thousand-year-old history of the Church.

In a way it is rather surprising that, despite the position taken so far by the Church in Rome and in Bosnia, and the negative statements made by none other than the bishops of the diocese, so many people from all parts of the world still flock to the shrine.

Is this in itself some kind of proof of its authenticity? Will people still travel to visit the shrine 25 years from now?

However, independently of whether the alleged apparitions are authentic or a fake, there is no denying that Medjugorje has become another centre of worship and devotion to Our Lady.

Commenting on the shrine and the alleged apparitions Franciscan Fr Sesar (the shrine is under the care of Franciscans) was quoted as saying: "We cannot pass judgment on the authenticity or otherwise of the apparitions.

"People no longer come here to witness miracles. Those who come here do so to strengthen their faith and to experience a spiritual revival. It is our duty to help them achieve their laudable intentions."